Free Bike Repair Stations Pop Up in Cambridge, Massachusetts

The bike repair station in Cambridge, Massachusetts was inspired by others at MIT

If you’re cycling through Harvard Square in Cambridge, Massachusetts and you get a flat tire, or decide that your saddle is too high, or that you just have to put on that new set of pedals you bought right now, then you’re in luck. The city has installed bike repair stations as part of a trial that could spread to the rest of the city if people have a little respect and don’t smash up these pilot stations.

The stations, which were inspired by stations on MIT’s campus, have a pump with pressure gauge and an assortment of tools — Allen wrenches, screwdrivers, a 15mm wrench — hanging from cables. The idea is that you can make quick repairs without having to carry your own tools.

The station has one other smart piece of design. Two bars up top are positioned to let you hang your bike by its seat. You slide the seat-post between the two and the bike is suspended before you, which is way easier than turning it upside down and balancing it on saddle and handlebars.

It’s a fantastic idea, and a great way for the city to show that it’s serious about promoting cycling. Let’s hope they are well used, and don’t get vandalized. I’d wish for something similar over here in Barcelona, Spain, but it would likely be stolen before the first cyclist even managed to use it.